AN ABERDEEN company providing marine technology services has picked up a top award at OTC.
Nautronix has been recognised jointly with Cameron, a Houston-based international manufacturer of oil and gas pressure-control equipment.
They have been honoured in the spotlight on new technology awards, which showcase the advanced technology required to drill miles under the ocean in increasingly harsh environments.
Nautronix and Cameron received their award for NASMux (Nautronix acoustic subsea multiplex). This acoustic multiplex control system for subsea blowout preventers (Bops) is in the front-end engineering design stage of development.
This system, which will use Nautronix’s ADS2 (acoustic digital spread spectrum) signalling technology, aims to ultimately remove the requirement for an umbilical for control; resulting in numerous safety, operational and economic benefits to offshore operations.
This is not the first time the two firms have partnered. In 2002, they worked together for Shell to develop compatibility between Cameron’s environmental safety guard (ESG) subsea isolation device and the Nautronix ADS2 technology and this resulted in NASBop (Nautronix acoustic subsea blowout preventer). Nautronix chief executive Mark Patterson said: “Since the development of NASBop, we have recognised the potential for a system with a greater number of functions to allow subsea Bop control.
“We are delighted Cameron also shares our outlook and are thankful for their continued support to develop this application of our acoustic technology. This award highlights our commitment to innovation and the potential for our ADS2 technology to have a strong positive impact on the industry.”
Mr Patterson said the adoption of NASMux into the industry was a huge opportunity for Nautronix to grow, with the potential to create more jobs and significantly increase revenue over the coming years.
He added: “It will take time. The industry is slow to accept new technology, but winning this prestigious award is testament of where the industry sees the use of digital ADS2 acoustics in the global subsea area and endorses our vision and investment in the development of ADS2 technology over the last eight years.”
David McWhorter, vice-president for engineering and quality at Cameron’s drilling systems division, said: “We are delighted that NASMux has been awarded such a highly established award.”